Testing...is this thing on?

I did this sketch of Lily before starting on the final one to see how the colors were going to work together. In some ways I like this one more. It's looser and has a greater resemblance to the real life Lily. As you can see I opted not to use white out for the highlights on the final piece. It seemed like it was more distracting than anything else. Just a few more promo portraits to go, now!

Lily, JD, and Mr. Marvelous

Here's my latest portrait from our June Blog Promo. As you can see it's a double portrait of my roommate Lily and her beau JD! To me it kind of looks like a cover for a cheesy horror film and the yellow eyes give Lily a "Thriller" quality.

Also, congratulations to Aaron Greyson from San Diego, CA for winning the facebook competition for best backstory. Check it out below.

"J. Titus Bloemkamp and his trusty sidekick Mr. Marvelous first met on the transoceanic ship, the "Bellerophon," where they spent a choppy winter stowing away below decks beneath sacks of potatoes. Bonding over shared loves of transmogrification and hot apple cider, the curious couple arrived on the blustery shores of northeastern Canada where they invested their remaining guilders in an ill-fated whaling expedition off the coast of Greenland. Penniless and homeless, they made their way into the newly-opened American west where, with Mr. Marvelous' underworld connections, they were able to launch a successful miracle cure business, marketing their products mostly to bored housewives and underage butterflies under the unimaginative brand name "B&M&Sons."

They both died childless; Bloemkamp of dysentery and Mr. Marvelous of a putrified wound sustained in an argument over cards in a Kansas saloon some years later."

Thanks Aaron!

Blog Promo drawing #2: Danno

Well this kind of came out a lot scarier than I had planned, but overall I'm pleased with it. I decided not to do a preliminary sketch for this one and just go with whatever lines the pen made on the paper. I think my favorite thing about it is it doesn't look like the things I normally draw. I once met an excellent chef who told me that he hated eating his own food. It's kind of like that for artists, too.

Mr. Green

I thought I should probably start making good on my promotional promise. Here's a portrait of the first person to take me up on it: Connor.

More than a feeling

This was a blind contour that I embellished a little.

I haven't gone to figure drawing lately but I keep meaning to. I found out recently that the Wednesday sessions at PNCA are going to continue through July so at least I'll have plenty of opportunities.

Btw my promotion is still on, people. Spread the word.

How can be?

If you're going to Karaoke on a Saturday night it's always a good idea to bring some sketching paper with you to amuse yourself while waiting for your turn to sing. Thanks Ben for the sheet of paper!

I'd also like to introduce a brand spanking new "Sketch a Day" internet promotion. If you sign up to follow this blog I will personally draw a portrait of you and send you a scan of the drawing. If you decide you want to enjoy it in your home you can then purchase it for a measly $15. All you have to do is click the button in the right-hand column that says "follow" and send the picture of yourself that you want drawn to dailysketch17.blogspot.com. And yes, this offer will apply to all of my current followers too, so feel free to send those pics in!